Marquette Catholic High School is, again, hosting two, two-week sessions of their international winter camp for three schools from Zibo, Shandong, China.
The first session’s delegation is from Zhangdian 8th Middle School – a school of more than 5,000 students in grades seven, eight and nine. The group participates in both linguistic and cultural activities. They “shadow” Marquette students, visit museums and sites in Chicago, visit American universities and shop in Michigan City. English as a New Language class is held on MQTT’s campus and is directed by the schools’ ENL instructor. Mr. Edwin Shelton, local artist and MQTT’s instructor of Art, provides an art lesson and also tours the group through the Art Institute of Chicago. World Champion Chicago Bull, Cliff Levingston, holds a basketball camp and, weather permitting, the students will have ski and snowboard lessons at Swiss Valley Ski Resort.
The second session, which begins February 2nd, will welcome students from two schools from the same city – Zhoucun 1st Middle School and Boshan 6th Middle School. This second group will participate in similar activities as the first.
Because MQTT’s campus housing is at capacity, the school is renting houses at Michigan City’s Beach Walk Community where one of the school’s resident deans lives with and takes care of the delegation.
MQTT’s Principal, James G. White states, “We have been hosting both winter and summer camps for about six years now. It is actually how our boarding program began. These groups of students who come and visit Michigan City find our community to be a paradise – in either season. Their experiences are built around what our community offers. The beauty of the dunes and our beaches, access to Chicago and South Bend and local shopping are all part of the itinerary any delegation experiences. Our visitors arrive here in awe. They are amazed at all that are small community has to offer and the natural beauty of our lakefront and preserves.
Our Global Studies programs have provided great opportunities for all of our students. Because we have created such strong partnerships with schools in China – MQTT students now have opportunities to visit a school there and travel through the country and experience the Chinese culture. China is a great addition to our current partners in Spain, France and Guatemala.”